GOP, advocacy groups submit changes to legislative district maps in court
CHICAGO — Plaintiffs in three lawsuits challenging the new legislative district maps that Democrats pushed through the General Assembly earlier this year have submitted their proposed changes, which would create more Latino- and Black-majority districts in Cook County and the Metro East region. The latest filings, submitted to a three-judge federal court panel Wednesday night, […]
Map: Redrawing Congressional Boundaries
Lawmakers returning to Springfield to consider congressional remap, more
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ first congressional remap draft is out but changes could be in store as lawmakers return to Springfield Tuesday for the first of their final two weeks of scheduled session in 2022. It’s customary for lawmakers to meet each fall to consider overriding or accepting any of the governor’s vetoes or amendatory vetoes […]
Lawsuit: New state legislative map undermines Black voters
CHICAGO — A new lawsuit seeks to block Illinois legislative district maps recently approved by Democrats from taking effect. The lawsuit filed in federal court Friday says Black residents of East St. Louis were unconstitutionally split up into multiple House districts to help white Democratic incumbents in neighboring districts win reelection. The East St. Louis […]
Plaintiffs: New legislative maps dilute Latino vote
SPRINGFIELD – Plaintiffs in two lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative redistricting plan have filed new complaints in federal court charging that the district maps that lawmakers approved in August dilute Latino voting power and thus violate the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational fund, or […]
In Court Hearing, Latino Rights Group Says New Maps Still Unfair
SPRINGFIELD – Lawyers for a Latino advocacy group told a panel of federal judges Wednesday that the new legislative district maps passed by the Illinois General Assembly the night before still dilute the vote of Hispanic citizens in the state, and they intend to proceed with a lawsuit in hopes of having them overturned. Ernest […]
Dems Forge Ahead With Redistricting Redo While Community Advocacy Groups Claim Deja Vu And GOP Hopes
Just three months after Democrats pushed new legislative maps through the General Assembly in the waning days of spring legislative session, lawmakers are back in Springfield on Tuesday week to fix those same maps, lest a federal court take mapmaking power out of their hands one way or another. But in the days before lawmakers’ […]
Federal 3-Judge Panel To Decide Whether State Redistricting Plan Is Constitutional
SPRINGFIELD – Lawyers for plaintiffs and the state told a panel of federal judges Wednesday the issues involved in two lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative redistricting plan are “straightforward” and ought to be resolved in short order. But the three-judge panel hearing the case appeared uncertain about how much time they actually have, given the […]
GOP Leaders Sue Over New District Maps
SPRINGFIELD – Republican leaders in the Illinois House and Senate filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the new legislative district maps that Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law June 4. Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, of Hawthorn Woods, and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, filed the suit in U.S. District Court […]
‘I Wanted More,’ Pritzker Says Of Ethics Bill
SPRINGFIELD — Governor JB Pritzker wants to make it clear that he’s not a wholesale believer in the ethics reform package Democratic lawmakers pushed through the legislature this week. The Democrat, who has less than a year and a half left in his first term as governor, takes umbrage with the suggestion he claimed any […]
Democrats’ Late Friday Maps Drop Brings Decennial Redistricting Fight To Fever Pitch
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois General Assembly’s typical end-of-May rush is headed for an acrimonious conclusion after Democrats published their long-awaited proposed legislative maps Friday evening, kicking off what those in the party hope is the final leg of a contentious once-in-a-decade redistricting process. Republicans — along with many self-styled government reform organizations and minority advocacy […]